Introducing WATCHMAN: A Better Way to Reduce Stroke Risk in Some AFib Patients

Jul 25, 2018Posted By:
Boulder Community Health

Boulder County residents now have local access to an advanced medical treatment
that reduces stroke risk for people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), the
most common type of heart arrhythmia.

Boulder Community Health’s Foothills Hospital is the only Boulder
County provider of an innovative heart valve procedure called
WATCHMAN. The WATCHMAN device is an FDA-approved implant proven to reduce stroke
risk in people with AFib that is not caused by a valve problem. Having
AFib can increase individuals' stroke risk by as much as five times.

A one-time, minimally invasive procedure, WATCHMAN is a permanent implant
that reduces stroke risk by closing off the left atrial appendage (LAA)
in the heart, where 90 percent of stroke-causing blood clots form. Doctors
commonly prescribe anti-coagulants (“blood-thinners” such
as warfarin) which work by decreasing the ability of blood to clot, effectively
reducing stroke risk in AFib patients. However, there are potential barriers
to using such drugs for certain individuals.

“The WATCHMAN procedure can be a life-enhancing option to effectively
reduce stroke risk without the increased risk for major bleeding that
can be associated with long-term use of blood-thinners—especially
for older adults at high risk for falls,” said
Dr. Srinivas Iyengar, one of Colorado's most experienced WATCHMAN specialists and head of the
Structural Heart and Valve program at BCH’s Boulder Heart clinics. “It’s also an important
new option for people who want to avoid anti-coagulant medications due
to concerns about bleeding should they sustain a serious injury while
participating in an active occupation or lifestyle.”

“We are proud to be the only facility in Boulder County providing
WATCHMAN procedures, which can give new hope to local patients who are
not good candidates for long-term use of blood-thinning medications,”
said Robert Vissers, MD, president and CEO of Boulder Community Health.
“BCH is committed to continually adding advanced technologies and
treatments that significantly expand the range of options we offer community
members with heart problems.”

With more than 100 WATCHMAN procedures successfully completed, Dr. Iyengar
is the most experienced cardiologist performing this procedure in the
Northern Front Range and Denver metro areas. In addition, Dr. Iyengar
is the only Colorado physician certified to teach other cardiologists
how to perform WATCHMAN.

During a WATCHMAN implantation, a specially trained cardiologist uses a
catheter to place the device inside the heart. A small incision is made
in the upper leg and the device is gently guided upward through a vein,
where it permanently seals the opening of the LAA and keeps it from releasing
clots. Most patients are able to go home the next day, with overall recovery
averaging two to four days.

To learn more and view an animation of the procedure, visit
bch.org/watchman. Watch Dr. Iyengar discuss WATCHMAN with Denver7’s Nicole Brady
here.

BCH’s multidisciplinary WATCHMAN team includes some of our region’s
most experienced cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic
surgeons. All patients are carefully assessed by our expert team to determine
which medications, treatments or procedures are best for each individual.